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Marian Horne feels ambushed

On Friday, Stacey Hassard announced he was challenging the Pelly-Nisutlin MLA for the Yukon Party nomination. "I'd heard rumours that he was going to challenge me, so I asked him," said Horne.

On Friday, Stacey Hassard announced he was challenging the Pelly-Nisutlin MLA for the Yukon Party nomination.

“I’d heard rumours that he was going to challenge me, so I asked him,” said Horne.

“Hassard said, ‘How many ways can I say no?’” she said.

Then, the next day, he announced he was running.

Hassard lied about it, said Horne.

“And my constituency association ambushed me,” she said.

Now, Horne is worried.

The Hassard family has a lot of influence and they hire a lot of people here, she said.

“I think people should choose carefully when they vote for their candidate on Friday,” said Horne.

“I have a proven track record, I’m not just looking for something to do.”

When Horne asked Hassard why he was challenging her, he said,

“Because I have time on my hands,” she said.

Since being elected, Horne has spent long hours on the road.

“It’s seven and a half hours from Teslin to Ross River,” she said.

“It’s a huge riding, but I get out there and I get calls from constituents almost daily.”

While she addresses local issues, Horne also sees the bigger picture, she said.

“I have done a lot of work for Yukoners on the Justice front and for women and seniors.”

Horne also drew national attention to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, she said.

“I even brought the minister up here and now it is getting national attention, because it is a problem right across Canada.”

Despite the long drives and the workload, Horne wants to stay in politics.

“I want to continue to improve the quality of life for Yukoners,” she said.

Also, 25 per cent of the Yukon’s population is First Nation, she added.

“So with 19 members (of the legislative assembly), four or five of them should be First Nation.

“And we’re not meeting that commitment.”

With one day left before the Yukon Party votes on its Pelly-Nisutlin candidate, Horne should be out canvassing.

“But I promised a senior I would drive them to a memorial in Whitehorse,” she said.

“So that’s a priority for me.”

Hassard did not return calls before press time.